McDonagh has missed the past four games with a concussion sustained Feb. 6 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Dylan McIlrath entered the lineup in his place and New York went 3-0-1 to open up a four-point lead over the New York Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

"I feel pretty good out there," McDonagh told BlueshirtsUnited.com. "Really not even thinking about [the injury] anymore, and that's the biggest thing for me. Just focusing on the way I need to play and having fun out there."

"Everything that I've seen so far, he looks fine," Vigneault said. "So we'll see how he responds. [Tuesday] was his first contact day. If he's alright [Wednesday] come optional [Wednesday] morning, there's a good chance I'll put him in the lineup [Wednesday] night."

McDonagh has seven goals and 26 points in 52 games this season, including nine points in 13 games prior to the injury.

"There's no doubt he's our best two-way defenseman," Vigneault said. "[He's] such a good skater and just before he got hurt, I would say in the last three weeks to a month there, we were seeing the Ryan McDonagh that we were talking about before, talking about a Norris [Trophy] candidate. That's how good he was playing at both ends of the rink."

Even if McDonagh plays against the Blackhawks, Vigneault said the Rangers may need to recall a defenseman from Hartford of the American Hockey League. Dan Boyle missed practice Tuesday with the flu and his status is uncertain; Marc Staal's wife is scheduled to have labor induced and he could be unavailable.